430 ACROSS AFRICA. [Chap. 



November, and dragging througli pools, waist-deep, dammed up in liollows 

 1875. since the last rains, and now slimy and stagnant. I confess that 

 it was a relief when, about four o'clock, I heard some of mj 

 men declare they could march no farther ; for, though I was 

 fully aware of the vital importance of pushing on, and should 

 have hesitated to suggest a halt, yet I was very weak, and glad 

 indeed to rest. 



One of my people and another of Manoel's being still able 

 and ready to march, we dispatched them with the letters I had 

 recovered at Lungi, and a note begging any charitably disposed 

 person to send a little food to meet us on the road. I then eat 

 my last morsel of damper, and turned in, intending the next 

 day to make the final effort. 



Somewhat refreshed by the night's rest, we continued our 

 way through the pass until noon — the rays of the sun reverber- 

 ating from the rocks making one feel as though in a furnace — 

 and on emergmg from it, made our midday halt at an angle of 

 the Supa, which drains the pass and falls into the sea at Ka- 

 tombela. 



On going to this stream to bathe, I was greatly surprised at 

 my curious appearance, being covered with purple spots ; and I. 

 noticed that a slight bruise on my ankle had developed into a 

 large and angry-looking place. 



I was still more astonished on lighting my pipe by way of 

 brealvfast — for my pipe was now my only food — to find my 

 mouth bleeding. Of the cause I was ignorant, for I did not 

 then know that I was attacked with scurvy. 



From some passing caravans, we heard that our two messen- 

 gers had been seen that morning, and wauld by this time have 

 arrived at Katombela. 



On again, across a rough and waterless plain lying between 

 us and the hills behind Katombela and Benguela, and then over 

 precipitous hills formed of limestone, with many huge ammon- 

 ites and other fossils, and having the appearance of cliffs which 

 might once have faced a sea. They were intersected by ravines 

 and dry water - courses, uj) and down the sides of which we 

 clambered in the dark, slipping about and bruising ourselves. 



But what did it rhatter ^ The next morning would see us at 

 Katombela. 



